Hull's small size holds back growth

Posted: Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Wanted: Two Hull residents with genuine community spirit and willingness to dedicate a few hours a month to public service.

Since 2002, the tiny city on the southern border of Madison County perpetually has searched for enough eligible, willing residents to serve on the Hull City Council. At least five elected members have resigned over the years because they moved out of the city limits or didn't have enough time to serve.

Now the city of 160 residents, mostly retirees, finds itself in a Catch-22.

Down to only three members on a five-person council, Hull Mayor Rebecca Hutchins would like to annex more homes and, therefore, more potential candidates.

But the council doesn't have enough members to carry out a legal vote on the issue.

"Right now, we're at a standstill," said Hutchins, who took the post last year after her husband, B.W. Hutchins, died while serving his 14th year as mayor.

To vote, the Hull City Council must have at least three council members, but other than Hutchins, the board only has two people, Paul and Rebecca Elkins, a married couple elected in 2003. The mayor votes only in the case of a tie.

Hutchins said she plans to hit the streets in search of viable candidates.

Hidden Falls, a newly developed 41-lot subdivision located off Glenn Carrie Road, offers great possibilities, she said.

"We want to get more people interested in local politics," the mayor said. "I understand it can't always happen, especially with people's busy schedules, but that was my husband's full intent. ... I'm looking forward to having a full council ... soon."

Once the city council seats are filled, leaders will begin to talk about land annexation, as well as traditional city council business - adding sidewalks in the Glenn Carrie Road area and more streetlights across the city.

Drumming up interest in local politics is not always easy, Paul Elkins said, but he sees serving as a council member as a way of giving back to the community that, over the years, has been good to him.

"Serving on the council is my way of doing a civic duty," he said. "I wish more people felt that way. Too few people are willing to serve on (a) council. In my view, it's part of the responsibility of being a citizen."